Working With My Energy, Not Against It

For most of my career, I tried to shape my days around the traditional idea of productivity: set hours, fixed blocks, and a linear schedule. It never suited me. What finally changed everything was letting go of the “clock rules” and structuring my work around my natural energy instead. My focus is strongest in the morning, so that is when I do strategy, client planning, and deeper creative work. By the afternoon, my brain shifts into a softer gear, which makes it the perfect time for communication, admin tasks, and reflection. Honoring that rhythm keeps my days grounded and helps me do better work without burning myself out.

The way I open and close my workday matters just as much. My mornings start slowly with dishes, coffee, and a round of Wordle and Connections from The New York Times before I even think about email. Evenings follow the reverse pattern: I shut down my work profile, make dinner, and unwind with whatever show I am watching. These simple rituals act like bookends, creating a mental boundary between work and life even though I work from home.

And when things get heavy with a full client load, a tight deadline, or a creative block, I don’t push harder anymore. I step back. A few minutes of quiet reflection helps me reset and check whether I am working intentionally or just reacting to stress. That pause often shifts the entire day.

This approach is the backbone of how I run Getting Ish Done Now. My work is about helping others find structure, clarity, and breathing room, and those principles start with how I run my own days. Balance is not something I squeeze in when everything else is done. It is the system that keeps everything else sustainable.